Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates, ending the visitors’ unbeaten Premier League start and leaving Mikel Arteta level with Manchester City at the top on nine points.
Why it landed this week
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- Mikel Arteta
- Xabi Alonso
- Manchester City
- Kai Havertz
- Morgan Rogers
Arteta wins the first managerial meeting
There was history in the technical areas before a ball had been kicked. Arteta and Alonso began their playing journeys together at Antiguoko and had met seven times as footballers, with Alonso’s record standing at three wins, two draws and two defeats.
Arteta had called their shared background, and the prospect of facing one another at this level, “incredible”. His first meeting with Alonso as a manager went his way, although Chelsea made the sort of start that suggested a very different afternoon.
Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead after only 76 seconds. Jorrel Hato flicked the ball on and Rogers struck from outside the box, beating David Raya for the first time in Arsenal’s league campaign. Rogers had turned down Arsenal during the summer window, adding a little extra bite to an already lively London derby.
It was Chelsea’s third very early Premier League goal in succession. They had scored in the first minute against Fulham, in the fourth against Brighton and now in the second minute at Arsenal. Unlike the wins over Fulham and Brighton, however, this one did not develop into another victory.
Havertz makes his old club pay
Chelsea supporters had their own reminder for the home end, claiming to be London’s only Champions League winners. Arsenal’s response came through the sharper football of the reigning Premier League champions.
Riccardo Calafiori had a goal ruled out in the 11th minute before Bukayo Saka drew a close-range save from Chelsea’s goalkeeper. At the other end, Raya was forced into action to keep out Reece James’ fierce 30-yard effort.
Arsenal’s equaliser arrived in the 25th minute. Havertz began wide on the right, cut infield and drove a left-footed shot inside the near post. Chelsea’s keeper might have expected to do better, but Havertz had once again hurt his former side.
The German has now scored three Premier League goals against Chelsea since leaving Stamford Bridge, more than he has managed against any other opponent in that period.
Chelsea nearly regained the lead before half-time. João Pedro’s long pass released Pedro Neto, who took on Gabriel Magalhães before striking the post in added time. It was close enough to make the interval feel rather less comfortable for Arsenal than the scoreline suggested.
Odegaard supplies the decisive finish
Arsenal struck again five minutes after the restart, this time attacking down the left. Christos Tzolis moved inside and threaded a pass towards Havertz, who cleverly allowed it to run into Martin Odegaard’s path. The Arsenal captain finished emphatically to turn the match around.
The second half followed a familiar pattern: Chelsea sought openings on the break, while Arsenal controlled more of the ball. Raya denied Cole Palmer in the 63rd minute, while Chelsea’s goalkeeper saved from Saka six minutes later.
Alonso went to his bench, introducing Pep Chavarría, Malo Gusto and Estevao, but Arsenal held firm. Raya’s finest intervention came in the 89th minute, when he diverted Estevao’s rising effort towards the top corner behind for a corner.
There was no late escape for Chelsea. Arsenal’s win puts them joint-first with Manchester City, both on nine points, while Chelsea remain fourth with six. For Alonso, it was an early lesson in the current order of London. For Arteta, it was a result that made his side look very much at home at the summit.
SEO Title: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea: Arteta beats Alonso as Havertz and Odegaard turn derby
SEO Description: Arsenal recovered from Morgan Rogers’ early Chelsea goal to win 2-1 at the Emirates, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sending Mikel Arteta level with Manchester City.
